What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dole vs Alms - What's the difference?

dole | alms |

As nouns the difference between dole and alms

is that dole is money or other goods given as charity while alms is something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.

As a verb dole

is to distribute in small amounts; to share out small portions of a meager resource.

dole

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dol, from (etyl) .

Verb

(dol)
  • To distribute in small amounts; to share out small portions of a meager resource.
  • Noun

  • Money or other goods given as charity.
  • * Dryden
  • So sure the dole , so ready at their call, / They stood prepar'd to see the manna fall.
  • * Keble
  • Heaven has in store a precious dole .
  • Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
  • * Cleveland
  • At her general dole , / Each receives his ancient soul.
  • (informal) Payment by the state to the unemployed.
  • I get my dole paid twice a week.
    I?ve been on the dole for two years now.
  • * 1996 , , page 107,
  • The men sit because they?re worn out from walking to the Labour Exchange every morning to sign for the dole , discussing the world?s problems and wondering what to do with the rest of the day.
  • * 1997 , , OECD Economic Surveys: Australia , page 67,
  • The FY 1997/98 Commonwealth budget allocated funding of A$ 21.6 million to the Work for the Dole initiative for unemployed young people.
  • A boundary; a landmark.
  • (Halliwell)
  • (UK, dialect) A void space left in tillage.
  • Etymology 2

    (etyl) dolus, from (etyl) doleo.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (archaic) Sorrow or grief; dolour.
  • * 1485 , , 1868, Morte Darthur , page 212,
  • Sir, said Sir Gingalin, I wot not what knight he was, but well I wot that he sigheth, and maketh great dole .
  • * Tennyson
  • And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat.
  • (legal, Scotland) dolus
  • Derived terms
    * (payment to support the unemployed) dole bludger

    Anagrams

    * ----

    alms

    English

    Noun

    (alms)
  • Something given to the poor as charity, such as money, clothing or food.
  • She gave $10 weekly to the poor as alms .
    Alms are distributed from the weekly collection for the purpose.
  • * c.'' 1779 ,
  • St. Antoninus never refused an alms which was asked in the name of God.

    Anagrams

    * ----